Joint structure for plate members



Nov. 28, 1967 UMEKICHI TAKAYANAGI ET Al. 3,355,195

JOINT STRUCTURE FOR PLATE MEMBERS I Filed Nov. 2, 1964 I nvenlors (lmsmcm WWW/1 mm Smwno K Attorney United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Plate or deck members for assembable and disassemblable scaffolding are provided with upwardly facing stepped end joints which allow separation when the joint is tilted upwardly from the plane of the scaffold but which will not allow the separable joint to bend downwardly below the plane of the scaffold. Means cooperating with the tilting provision are provided for preventing endwise separation and for assembling a deck.

The present invention relates to a joint structure for interconnecting plate members at their ends used particularly in construction of scaffolding for building.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of plate members incorporating a joint structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of said plate members shown separated from each other;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the joint structure; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of pairs of such plate members arranged side by side.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of plate members 1 and 2 which are to be jointed together longitudinally thereof have their opposed joint end portions divided substantially along their respective longitudinal center lines thereby to form a projecting portion 1' of suitable length extending from the plate member 1 and a projecting portion 2 which is the same length as the first projecting portion 1 and which extends from the plate member 2. Also, cutaway portions 1" and 2" are formed in the plate members 1 and 2, respectively, which are, of course, complementary in shape to the projecting portions 2' and 1, respectively. Further, stepped engagement portions 5 and 6 are formed on the end edges of the projecting portions 1' and 2, respectively, by cutting away just the lower half of the thickness of the plate, while stepped receiver portions 3 and 4 are formed on the end edges of the cut-away portions 1" and 2", respectively, similarly by cutting away just the upper half of the thickness of the plate, as shown in FIG. 2. The joint structure of the present invention is thus constructed.

In use, as shown in FIG. 3, the plate members, 1 and 2 in pair are placed on suitable support members 7 and 8, with the projecting portions 1' and 2' entering their respective mating or complementary cut-away portions 2" and 1" so that the stepped engagement portions 5 and 6 of the projections 1 and 2' are placed on the stepped receiver portions 3 and 4 of the cut-away portions 1" and 2". Thus, the assembly when seen from above will as sume the form shown in FIG. 3, and when seen from the side the form shown in FIG. 4.

In order to further assure the dependability of such joint structure, vertical holes 12 are preferably formed in the plate members at their stepped receiver portions 3 and 4. In case that more than two pairs of plate members are arranged side by side to provide a broader structure as shown in FIG. 4, pins 14 and holes 13 which receive the pins may be provided for the purpose of preventing the relative displacement of the adjacent plate members during operation.

When a load 9 is applied on the thus jointed plate structure from above in the direction of arrow shown in FIG. 3, it tends to produce deflection in the junction. However, rotational force of radius R around the point of juncture between the above-mentioned portions 4, 5 and 3, 6 will be produced, whereby the stepped receiver portions 3, 4, 5 and 6 share the load with one another to counteract it. Further, if the point of application of such load is offset from the center to act on either 1 or 2", then rotational forces in opposite directions indicated by the arrows X and Y will be exerted to stress 1" or 2 so that the latter tends to be separated from the juncture. But such tendency can be prevented by the pin and hole arrangement and thus the load can be successfully supported.

conventionally, such sort of scaffolding was not simple in assembly, required the use of auxiliary members or tools, and was dangerous in use when mounted in the work site at high altitude.

According to the present invention, scaffolding can be dependably constructed by simply putting together the plate members end to end, thereby safely and firmly support loads applied at any points on the scaffolding by the cooperation of the stepped engagement portions and stepped receiver portions associated therewith. Further, the present improved structure is very easy in disassembly and is of highly practical nature for use as a joint structure.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What we claim is:

1. An assemblable and disassemblable joint structure for plate members which comprises:

(a) two end-to-end inter-engaging plate members (b) said plate members adapted, when interengaged,

to lie in a common plane,

(c) said plate members each comprising an upwardly facing stepped portion (3, 4) of substantially half the width of the plate member in said plane,

(d) said plate members comprising laterally of said stepped portions (3, 4), projecting portions (1, 2') of substantially half the width of the plate member, in said plane,

(e) said projecting portions (1, 2) of the two plate members being of substantially the same length, extending beyond the stepped portions (3, 4) thereof, and each comprising a downwardly facing step engagement portion (5, 6) adapted to rest upon the stepped portion of the other interengaging plate member,

(f) the step engagement portion (5, 6) of each interengaging plate member thus being supported on and holding down the stepped portions (3, 4) of the other interengaging plate member,

(g) whereby the interengaged portions of the plate members are permitted to be tilted upwardly from said common plane, but are restrained against tilting below said common plane.

2. An assemblable and disassemblable joint structure for plate members as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

(h) said stepped portions (3, 4) and said step engage- 3 4 meat portions (5, 6) are provided with interengagmembers in side-by-side relation without preventing ing longitudinal abutment means (12., 12) extendthe tilting referred to in clause (g). ing substantially perpendicular to said common plane, for preventing relative longitudinal motion of R r n s C t d said plate members when interengaged, 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS (i) said means (12, 12) being disengageable from one another by tilting the interengaged end portions of 1;; guslfiiell tlie plate member upwardly from said common 1212262 H1917 gg gfi f 287:20'92 p ane. 3. An assemblable and disassemblable joint structure 10 249818O 5/1946 Pedersen 287 20'92 for plate members as claimed in claim 1, wherein: EDWARD ALLEN Primary Examiner (h) said plate members at positions spaced longitudinally thereof from each of said stepped portions CARL TOMLIN, Examine!- (3, 4) having single laterally extending pins and RS'BRITTS AssismmExaml-ner holes (13, 14, 13, 14) for securing pairs of plate 

1. AN ASSEMBLABLE AND DISASSEMBLABLE JOINT STRUCTURE FOR PLATE MEMBERS WHICH COMPRISES: (A) TWO END-TO-END INTERENGAGING PLATE MEMBERS (1,2), (B) SAID PLATE MEMBERS ADAPTED, WHEN INTERENGAGED, TO LIE IN A COMMON PLANE, (C) SAID PLATE MEMBERS EACH COMPRISING AN UPWARDLY FACING STEPPED PORTION (3,4) OF SUBSTANTIALLY HALF THE WIDTH OF THE PLATE MEMBER IN SAID PLANE, (D) SAID PLATE MEMBERS COMPRISING LATERALLY OF SAID STEPPED PORTIONS (3,4), PROJECTING PORTIONS (1'', 2'') OF SUBSTANTIALLY HALF THE WIDTH OF THE PLATE MEMBER, IN SAID PLANE, (E) SAID PROJECTING PORTIONS (1, 2) OF THE TWO PLATE MEMBERS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LENGTH, EXTENDING BEYOND THE STEPPED PORTIONS (3, 4) THEREOF, AND EACH COMPRISING A DOWNWARDLY FACING STEP ENGAGEMENT PORTION OF (5, 6) ADAPTED TO REST UPON THE STEPPED PORTION OF THE OTHER INTERENGAGING PLATE MEMBER, (F) THE STEP ENGAGEMENT PORTION (5, 6) OF EACH INTERENGAGING PLATE MEMBER THUS BEING SUPPORTED ON AND HOLDING DOWN THE STEPPED PORTIONS (3, 4) OF THE OTHER INTERENGAGING PLATE MEMBER, (G) WHEREBY THE INTERENGAGED PORTIONS OF THE PLATE MEMBERS ARE PERMITTED TO BE TILTED UPWARDLY FROM SAID COMMON PLANE, BUT ARE RESTRAINED AGAINST TILTING BELOW SAID COMMON PLANE. 